Uber has hit out at drivers who pick up passengers on unbooked rides after a man from Southall was convicted for "illegally plying for hire" .
The driver was caught red-handed after unwittingly giving two council officers a lift without a booking.
Following Ifran Hamid Hussain's conviction this week, Uber has slammed illegally pick ups and warned that drivers could lose their licence.
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An Uber spokesman said: "In the UK all private hire trips must be pre-booked through an operator.
"Any driver who is found to have accepted a job without a pre-booking will permanently lose access to the Uber app and risks having their private hire licence taken away.
"We are fully supportive of this enforcement activity and work closely with councils to stamp out illegal activity."
Hussain, 33, of Honeysuckle Close appeared at Guildford Magistrates' Court Wednesday (August 16) where he was found guilty.
He was caught in the act on August 28 last year when he parked outside a pub in Guildford to take the council officers for a ride.
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Despite the unbooked journey going against the conditions of his licence, Hussain pleaded not guilty when he first appeared in court on March 14 but was later convicted.
Hussain was ordered to pay Guildford Borough Council £1,500 following his conviction.
He was also fined a further £250 and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.
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